Ata date which is very shortly to be fixed, certainly not later than the beginning of next Year, the rate of postage from the United Kingdom to Canada, Newfoundland, Caps Colony, Natal, and such other of the Crown Colonies as may after communication with and approval of Her Majesty's Government wish to adopt it, is to be reduced to one penny. Thus the much calked of Universal Penny Postage seems near realisation. For the present Australia is not included, and the- reason is not far to seek, Their intercolonial poste: rate is 2d. for any distance outside their large cities—even this in many districts does not pay, the expense incurred being infinitely greater than in sending a letter to England. I was amused when I was living in a country town in New South Wales. to find it cost precisely the same to send a parcel to Sydney or to London the postmaster facetiously remarking that the little trip across the water was not charged for. OF course until the intercolonial rates can be lowered, it is out of the question that Australia can enter into the penny postage union. It is hoped that before very long America inay be included in the penny rate, Mr. Charles Emory Smith, their Postmaster-General, has been approached on the subject, but declines for the present to discuss the matter. He admitted that it might be an excellent thing, but said it would in many respects necessitate an entire change of their present system and involve much new legislation. An official in the foreign mails department at the G.P.O, stated yesterday to a representative of Dalziel's Agency that whereas England made a profit of something like from three to five millions per annum, America incurred a yearly loss of much the same amount; it is therefore not wonderful that they look with suspicion ona movement that may seriously add to their deficit. It is, however, sure to come sooner or later, and if Australian and merican why not China and India? They too will, I suppose, be included some day.
A MUNICIPAL OPERA HOUSE, Even with wars and rumours of wars and the penny postage we are not neglecting amusements and the latest iden of catering for "the people" is to give them cheap operas, and for this end we require a national opera house, the present one being already full, and too expensive. That night at the opera is a treat we all readily admit; this season has been delightful. Mel-Nordica, Eames, and the De Reszke's have all sung divinely and one longs to go again and again, but, it is so expensive. A petition has, however, been presented to the County Council which, if they agree to it, will speedily change all this, It has been signed by so many influential members of the art world that it must at least command attention. The idea is that if the County Council will make an annual grant of £15,000 the matter can be carried through and the million provided with high class operas and first class singers at moderate prices, the scale of charges suggested being those that obtain in the principal theatres at the present time, In this case if adequate representations were given the house would probably never be self-supporting owing'to the fees demanded by the principal artists, which show more signs of increasing than decreasing. It seems to be more a matter for private than public generosity as it is difficult te see how public monies could be applied to an enterprise that could affect but a small portion of the community. The -reply of the County Council to the petition will be watched for with great interest.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.